Chapter 1

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities, saith¹ the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh⁴ under the sun?

[One] generation passeth away,⁶ and [another] generation cometh:^{6 935 1} but the earth abideth⁶ for ever.

The sun also ariseth,¹ and the sun goeth down,¹ and hasteth⁶ to his place where he arose.⁶

The wind goeth⁶ toward the south, and turneth about⁶ unto the north; it whirleth⁶ about⁶ continually,⁶ and the wind returneth again¹ according to his circuits.

All the rivers run⁶ into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come,⁶ thither they return⁶ again.²

All things [are] full of labour; man cannot ^{3201 4} utter¹⁵ [it]: the eye is not satisfied⁴ with seeing,² nor the ear filled¹¹ with hearing.²

The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done⁸ [is] that which shall be done:¹¹ and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.

Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said,⁴ See,³ this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

[There is] no remembrance of former [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after.

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

And I gave¹ my heart to seek² and search out² by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done⁸ under heaven: this sore travail hath God given¹ to the sons of man to be exercised² therewith.

I have seen¹ all the works that are done⁸ under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

[That which is] crooked³⁰ cannot ^{3201 4} be made straight:² and that which is wanting cannot ^{3201 4} be numbered.⁹

I communed¹⁴ with mine own heart, saying,² Lo, I am come to great estate,⁵² and have gotten more⁵² wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great⁵³ experience¹ of wisdom and knowledge.

And I gave⁴ my heart to know² wisdom, and to know² madness and folly: I perceived¹ that this also is vexation of spirit.

For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth⁵⁵ knowledge increaseth⁵⁵ sorrow.